Bread slicing machine



Jan. 2,' 1940.

R. J. B EUTEL BREAD SLICING MACHINE v N @f I m w m8 n m a m 1 i R e E O .w W T 2. v l M .A

IIIIIII/l g! /IIIIIA Filed Jan. -2, 1936 \AmN Jan. 2, 1940. R. J. BEUTEL BREAD SLICING MACHINE -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1936 Patented Jan. 2, 1946 OFFIE BREAD SLICING MACHINE Robert J. Beutel, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation ofNew Jersey Application January 2, 1936, Serial No. 57,081

4 Claims. (Cl. 146-153) This invention relates to slicers, more particularly to bread slicing machines of the type in which two sets of straight slicing knives are oppositely moved, its main object being to provide a 5 simplified slicer having a longer stroke and in which the wear of the moving'parts is reduced to a minimum. To this end a pair of cradles each carrying a knife frame is rigidly connected to cross-heads reciprocated from a common crankshaft or other suitable eccentric member and the cradles slide in guides which take up and over which the side thrust of the crank-shaft is distributed. Heretofore, this side thrust was applied to the stuffing-boxes of the crank case in which the cross-heads slide, and the wearing of the stuffing-boxes was found to be excessive and objectionable. In the present construction, the

cross-heads may be guided in stufiing-boxes provided on the crank case, but'due to the rigid connection of the cross-heads with the cradles, substantially the entire side thrust is imparted to the guides.

A furtherobject of the invention is to mini.- mize the side thrust of the crank-shaft, and to this end the latter is linked to the cross-heads by Wrist-pins which are offset inwardly on their respective cross-heads.

Still another object of the invention is to lubricate the crank-shaft and connecting rod bearings.

' With this end in view, an' oil pump is provided within the crank case and connected to the desired bearings for delivery of lubricant thereto.

An auxiliary object is the provision of an oiltight crank case. For this purpose stuffing-box- 5- es of novel construction are employed wherein the cross-heads protrude through an internal gland and an outer gland or cover, the outer glands serving to keep crumbs out of the stumngboxes and the inner glands being perforated to 40 permit return of the oil collected from the crosshead to the crank case.

Other objects are to circulate the lubricant through an oil filter and stabilize the rotation of the crank shaft by mounting fly-Wheels on each of its ends.

To prevent communication of the vibration of the slicer to the bed of the wrapping machine, if used in combination with the same, or to the bakery fioor if used independently, the crank 50 shaft is connected to the drive shaft through a rubber coupling. A further object, therefore, is to provide a novel coupling of this nature.

Supplementary objects are to permit the knife frames to be inserted or withdrawn horizontally from their cradles'without being lifted or slid vertically, and relieve the shearing stress imposed on the members which look the knife frames to their cradles, these members extending transversely of the path of reciprocation of the cradle and the stress which would otherwise be imposed on them being injurious. 7

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in 10 the claims hereunto appended.

Generally stated, in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the cradle is reciprocated in guides on which the side thrust of the crank-shaft or other eccentric driving member is 15 imposed. In the best constructions contemplated there is provided a pair of cradles each carrying a knife frame and actuated from a common crank-shaft, the latter being linked to crossheads rigidly connected to the cradles, by con- 29 necting rods pivoted on wrist-pins offset towards the crank-shaft on their respective cross-heads. The crank-shaft, in the best constructions, is connected to the drive shaft through arubber coupling member which prevents transmittal of the 25 vibration of the slicer therethrough.

The slicer may be'widely varied in construotion for the specific structure selected to illustrate the invention is but oneof many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the details illustrated and described nor to the particular embodiment chosen as illustrative of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like charact-ers of reference indicate the same or like parts: slicing unit embodying the invention;

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation of a breadslicing unit embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation on line 22 of Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is an end elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the knife frame being shown swung out of its normal position to reveal details, of its connection to its cradle; i I

Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional side elevation of the coupling between the driven and crankshafts of the improved slicer unit; and

Fig, 5 is an end elevation of the coupling memher, on line 5-5'of Fig. 4., v

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, two sets of spaced slicing knives l0 are supported in a well known manner on knife frames 5 l removably mounted on cradles l2, the frames H being locked to the cradles by cap pivot screws I3 and having ears i l engaging with lugs i 5 of the cradles l2 whereon they are held in place by lag screws 16, (see Fig. l); The screws 53 pass through flanged steel bushings I? in the cradles i2 and are threaded into steel sockets l8 clamped between flanges on the frames 5 i by screws iii. The inner flanges of the bushings H each have a transverse tongue fitting a groove in the head of the adjacent socket i8 and serving to relieve the shearing stress which would otherwise be imposed on the screws 23 when the cradles are reciprocated. Upon removing the screws 83 and It the knife frames may be withdrawn horizontally from their cradles and replaced by a similar knife frame having a different spacing of slicing knives. During the insertion and withdrawal of the knife frames the engagement of the tongues of the bushings H with the grooves of the sockets I8 serves to guide and support the knife frames and facilitates their exchange.

The ears it and lugs iii are likewise equipped with steel bushings 25 and sockets 2! since the frequent manipulation of the screws !3 and it would otherwise cause excessive wearing of the cradles and knife frames, especially when the same are formed of aluminum alloys or other light weight material. To aid in locating the knife frames for insertion into their cradles, their ver tical strengthening ribs are provided with outwardly projecting noses i la which may be brought into engagement with the inner flanges of the bushings ii to align the grooves of the sockets IS with the tongues of the former, whereupon the knife frame is moved transversely to insert it into its cradle.

The cradles l2, which are slidable in guides 22 attached to the slicer frame 23, are clamped or otherwise rigidly mounted on pairs of vertical cross-heads 25, 2d actuated by connecting rods 25, 25 from a crank-shaft 26, the cross-heads 25, 25' being provided with pairs of flanges 2'5 carrying wrist-pins 28 on which are pivoted the connecting rods 25, 25. The cross-heads 24, 24 by this arrangement have a straight reciprocating instead of an oscillating motion as heretofore, whereby the side thrust of the connecting rods on the cradles l2, due to the rigid connection of the latter with the cross-heads, is distributed over the entire extent of the guides 22. By distribution of the force of the side thrust in this manner, the friction of the cradles in their guides is appreoiably reduced. Moreover, by oifseting the wrist-pins inwardly toward the crank shaft as shown, the force of the side thrust is reduced and the cradles will always move in opposite directions if connected to diametrically opposite cranks on the crank-shaft. The crank-shaft 26 is mounted in the bearings of a crank case 29 which forms part of the bed. The crank case is made oil-tight by gasket-fitted seals 38 through which the ends of the crank-shaft protrude and novel stuffing-boxes 3| in which the cross-heads slide. To stabilize the motion of the cradles 52 a fly wheel 32 is mounted at each end of crank-shaft 26.

On the crank-shaft is mounted a worm 33 meshing with a worm wheel 34 driving a pump 35 of the impellor type which removes the oil from the crank case through the inlet pipe 35 and forces the same through outlet pipe 37 into an adjustable relief valve 38 of conventional construction from which it is conducted by distributing pipes 39 into the crank-shaft bearings 45 and, through ducts M in the crank-shaft, into the connecting rod bearings 42. A portion of the stream of oil issuing from relief valve 38 is fed by a pipe 53 to a filter (not shown) whence it returns to the crank case sump. From relief valve 38 a pipe 44 leads to a pressure gauge 45, and from the crank case sump a pipe 46 leads to a temperature gauge 41, both gauges being mounted side by side on the slicer frame 23. If desired the lubricant may be conducted from the connecting rod bearings through tubing 4L1: (Figs. 1 and 2) fastened on the connecting rods to ducts in the wrist-pins communicating with their bearings; and the lubricant may be similarly conducted from the crank shaft bearings to the cradle guides although ordinarily a little grease will provide sufficient lubrication of the latter.

The pulley 18 mounted on a shaft 50 supported in a bearing is driven by a belt 49 from a separate motor (not shown), the shaft 50 being concentric with crank shaft 26 and connected to the same through a flexible coupling consisting of two male clutch members 52, 52, Fig. 4, formed of steel or other suitable material and attached to the ends of shafts 55 and 26, and a floating soft rubber female coupling member 53, Figs. 4 and 5, the members 52, 52' having jaws 54, 54 fitting into depressions 55, 55 of the member 53. When the slicer unit is used in combination with a wrapping machine, it may be put out of operating position by shifting the frame 23 on its support rods 55, whereby the clutch member 52' is disconnected from the coupling member 53 as it moves with the crankshaft 26. Upon opening a switch by the same movement, the driving motor may likewise be disconnected.

When the slicer unit has been shifted, the flywheels are exposed for ready removal, thus facilitating assembly and disassembly of the flywheels and associated structures.

It will be understood that the device described may be incorporated in combined bread slicing and Wrapping machines, or used as an independent slicer. In the latter case there will be provided an inclined chute and, if desired, a loaf feed serving to advance the loaves to and through the slicer knives, that shown in my co-pending application S. N. 752,34 filed November 9, 1935, being suitable for this purpose. For use with combined slicing and wrapping machines, the slicer may be provided with a table through slots of which the slicing knives pass and over which the loaves are advanced on their way to the wrapper mechanisms, as shown in British Patent No. 405,344, January 22, 1934.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slicer of the type comprising a reciprocable blade carrier, a set of guides having sliding contact with said blade carrier, and arranged to confine it to a rectilinear path, and a crank-shaft enclosed within a crank case adapted to hold a supply of lubricant; lubricant controlling means, including a stuffing box on said crank-case, and a plunger connected with said crank-shaft and protruding through said stufiing box, carrying a cross-head connected to said blade carrier; said stuffing box including a cover having an orifice through which said plunger passes with a slip fit, and an internal gland through which the plunger likewise passes, said internal gland being spaced from the cover-orifice and being fitted to strip from said plunger the major portion of the lubricant thereon, derived from the crank-case, but allowing a moiety of lubricant to remain on the plunger, the gland having perforations to permit path of reciprocation of said cradle and connect ing the latter and the knife frame, and bushings on said screws extending from the cradle into the knife frame to relieve the shearing stress on said screws, and lugs on said knife frame arranged to engage the cradle and aid in locating the. knife frame in the proper position for insertion into the cradle, said knife frame having a transverse groove and each bushing having a flange adapted to enter said groove, to hold said parts in their intended positions.

3. The combination with a drive shaft, of a slicer unit movable in and out of operative position; rails to support said slicer unit for such movement in alignment with said drive shaft;

I said slicer unit including a crank shaft aligned with said drive shaft, and a flexible coupling mounted on said drive shaft, said flexible coupling comprising a member adapted to be fixed upon I said drive shaft and having spaced studs extending toward the crank shaft, another member adapted to be fixed upon said crank-shaft and having studs extending toward the drive shaft, and an intermediate membermade of elastic material and having recesses to be engaged with said studs on each of said members only when said slicer unit is moved into its operative position, relatively to the drive shaft, the removal of said slicer unit in alignment with said drive shaft causing at least one set of said studsto be withdrawn from their recesses in said elastic member, thus uncouplingthe shafts and incapacitating the slicer, while the uncoupled shafts remain in alignment ready for recoupling;

4. A slicer comprising a pair of oppositely, dis posed knife frames, means mounting said frames for reciprocating movement in spaced parallel planes, a single crank shaft having-its axis paral:

lel to said knife frames and disposed in'the ex tension of an intermediate plane lying midway between and parallel with the planes of the frames, connecting rods vpivotally mounted on said single crankshaft and having wristpins reciprocableinsaid intermediateplane, and cross heads with connections to said knife frames and saidwristpins, whereby the knife: frames are reciprocated in symmetrically opposed balanced relation at each side of said plane in which said wristpins reciprocate, and in which the-axis of said crankshaft is disposed.

ROBERT J. BEUTEL. 

